the daniel fast: week two

Soooo?

How’s it going?

I really do want to hear from y’all who are also fasting… I was thrilled when several of y’all commented that you’d be fasting as well. So please, comment below, email me or send a carrier pigeon my way, but fill me in on all the deets!

Us? We’re hanging in there. I gotta admit, last week was tough. I am going to spare you all the gory details, but let me just say… I knew I was nearing rock bottom when my husband’s fruit flavored fiber tablets were starting to look tasty.

I guess cutting sugar completely out of your diet will do that to a person. Or maybe just to this person.

But I have high hopes for this week. The fog is beginning to clear and it doesn’t feel like such a daily struggle. I know. I’ve still got 12 days to go. But I was so very relieved not to wake up with a headache this morning.

And yesterday was fantastic. I’ve never experienced a worship service, with a whole room full of folks who are also fasting and praying. It was a huge shot in the arm for me. And a reminder that when He asks a body of believers to do something, and they obey, the results can be positively miraculous.

Honestly, cannot wait to see all He accomplishes through these 21 days.

So, the final frontier for us, what we still are struggling with, is dinner.

Oy.

We’re trying to avoid a lot of the super expensive fancy-pants stuff, so our options are somewhat limited. And no Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods nearby. Which, now that I think on it, might actually be a good thing.

We have had a few hits – black bean chili over brown rice, and organic refried beans, fresh salsa and homemade corn “chips”. But many, many more misses. Don’t even want to drag you down with the recipe flops we’ve had around here as of late. But that’s okay. If at first you don’t succeed….

You go out to Walmart again and scour the health-food section.

So please feel free to share any tips or treats or recipes that were a hit at your house. The split pea soup that is bubbling on my stove is not looking so great.

Here are a few of our favorite things over the last week:

* Been LOVING the Pur water pitcher we bought at the beginning of this. I am a confirmed water-hater, but this thing has made drinking water almost pleasant. And when water is all you can drink, that’s a pretty big deal.

* Triscuits, Triscuits and more Triscuits. We eat ’em with peanut butter, almond butter, soup, salads and just flat out plain.

* Mesa Sunrise. It’s a cereal that we found that seems to be free of everything we are to avoid – if not, please don’t tell me. And, although it takes pretty awful plain, it’s darn yummy with raisins and almond milk (just make sure yours in unsweetened), or in a trail mix.

* Speaking of trail mix, just take some mixed nuts, oats, raisins, sunflower seeds, unsweetened coconut, and the above cereal (or any that you can find) and combine. It makes a filling snack that is also great with almond milk.

* Veggie hits are avocado, spinach and tomatoes. And for cooking, lots and lots of garlic.

We love to make banana ice cream. It’s soooo simple! Peel bananas, break them into chunks and freeze them. Once frozen, put them in a food processor and blend until it becomes like soft serve. No sugar needed. It’s sweet and has the same texture as ice cream. Add some almond butter. It’s so delicious!

We also love making buddha bowls. Finely chop up a variety of raw veggies – broc, cauliflower, zucchini, shredded carrots, kale, cherry tomatoes…then put freshly made brown rice on top. The heat from the rice gently steams the veggies so they’re not totally raw but the nutrients aren’t cooked out of them. Finely chopped veggies will steam faster and your kids don’t feel like they’re forced to eat yucky brocoli or kale, it’s all mishmashed in with the rice. Add chick peas for protein, avocado, olive oil, squeeze some lemon, soy or tamari sauce. It’s delicious and so healthy!

Have you thought about all natural fruit smoothies just to change it up? Like some frozen mixed berries and water maybe? I always think it’s more fun to sip my fruits and veggies. I bet you could google some ideas on how to make it fit your fast.

I started today. Don’t know why I planned this for a day that everyone is home and I have to make a dinner for a family with a new baby. I’m muddling through… I would love to know where you found your recipes and exactly how you are planning your meals. Hardest part for me is all the other people that I have to feed.

I have been fasting for a week now, and our church just started fasting corporately…Difficult, but rewarding. I agree; it’s amazing when God asks a body of believers to do something, and they obey, the results are miraculous. Let’s encourage each other to push on to the end of this, because, let me tell ya… there are times when I feel extremely “weak,” but I press on! BTW…I absolutely love reading your blog; it’s encouraging & entertaining. We have 5 bio children & are adopting a little 15 month old SN girl from China (Yunnan Province).

I mentioned before that I started fasting around the same time as you. I cannot do the Daniel Fast due to health issues I have but I have given up several foods & beverages that I LOVE. It has been difficult but, each time I smell coffee and want it or have a migraine and want cola…I just ask the Lord to talk to me. I chose my strongest vices (food/beverage wise) and hope to break myself of them completely. Our pastor said that it takes 21 days to break an old habit….I hope he is right : )

“each time I smell coffee and want it or have a migraine and want cola…I just ask the Lord to talk to me”….AHHH, that was GREAT!! Thank God for developing that in you and for you posting that on here because I needed to read it! God is faithful!! Halleluah!

While fasting, may we not get so caught up in what to eat and not to eat that we forget the pray/petition the Lord on what it is we are fasting about, meditate on the Word, and focus our attention on what the Lord wants to say to us at that time.

Take a look at the South Beach Diet cookbook…many AMAZING, tasty recipes that will most likely fit your needs right now. Also, check out Ezekiel 4:9 bread – I call it the “un-bread” – it’s flourless, made with sprouted grains & delicious! I’m getting to be a pro at all this low-carb/no sugar stuff…it’s tough at first, but I bet there will be some things you WON’T go back to once it’s over. Good Luck!!

My name is Kate, I am a friend of Colleen’s and found your blog through hers! Your children are so precious! I just read about your Daniel fast and wanted to throw out a few ideas.

1) Do you know about Quinoa – pronounced Keen-wa. It’s pretty tasty. It is considered a veggie with protein attributes. It’s great toasted and then cooked up like rice. I’ve made it like rice, or into a tabouli (sp?) recipe. You can use it to make “burgers” too!

2)To get your pasta fix try baking some spaghetti squash – halved and a little olive oil on top & then baked in the oven for about 45 minutes. Open up your favorite marinara sauce, or make some pasta sauce. You can grill some portobello mushrooms to go with this. Scoop out the squash with a fork, then add mushrooms and your sauce and you’ve got a great satisfying meal!

Mix all ingredients except corn. Cook corn in microwave. Mix cooked corn into vegetables. cover for 5 minutes. Eat.
Steam from corn “melts” avocado so it turns saucy. Would probably be very good with brown rice, salsa substituting for tomatoes, cilantro… CHIPS….
Have fun with it!

Stephanie, I began the Daniel Fast Jan 2 and have been eating lots of salads, beans and whole grain rice. I also like to add lemon or lime to my water. Fruit smoothies have been my favorite. This was not a good time for my fast due to my own 25th anniversary party yesterday. I allowed myself a piece of cake, but then had a hard time getting back to fasting today. I am going to start again tomorrow and am SO glad I serve a God of mercy when I mess up!

i haven’t read through the comments but is your family open to quinoa? It’s high protein and a grain. you could eat it hot or cold. A quinoa salad w/ chopped cukes, toms, bell pepper, and sliced black olives drizzled w/ some oil and vinegar plus salt and pepper is quite yummy.

Are you allowed to eat soy? Tofu is also a good source of protein and you can prepare it in ways that mimic meat -soak in some soy sauce, garlic, etc, slice, and then pan fry the slabs.

Black bean “hamburger” patties: mash black beans, season with a touch of salt, pepper, and some cumin/bbq/your favorite seasoning, and then form into little patties and pan fry until slightly browned or crispy. If you want to make it a little more moist you can add a touch of finely shredded zuke.

First, let me say I commend you for taking on this challenge. In my church, we fast once a month by abstaining from food/drink for two meals (say, you’d eat dinner on Saturday, then not eat or drink again until dinner on Sunday). Obviously, not everyone can do this 100% (i.e., if you are pregnant, nursing, ill, taking medication that requires you to eat, or just plain physically unable), so some people modify this to personalize to their particular situation. Of course, fasting without prayer is just “not eating”, so we start and end our fast with prayer, and in between prayerfully think on and meditate about the purpose of our fast. That Sunday, the congregation comes together in fasting for a fast and testimony meeting, where anyone is invited to stand and share his testimony. It is a spiritually unifying experience to know that your brothers and sisters are united in fasting and prayer.

So, here’s my question – and please know I am not being critical or in any way down-playing your fast. I think it’s great. But if you are searching for ways to get around the rules (i.e., satisfy the sweet tooth without eating the sugar, etc.) – is that kind of a “letter of the law” approach, rather than a “spirit of the law” approach?

In any case – the program you are following is a great way to eat! I don’t know that I could do it, at least for that long. Hats off to you, and good luck.

Hi Steph, I just wanted to let you know I have been fasting with you. (except I told the Lord before starting that I needed a cup of black coffee in the morning which gives me no pleasure at all but I haven’t had to deal with headaches 🙂

I don’t have any recipe advice because I’ve been living off oatmeal, nuts, apples, black beans and rice and an occasional raspberry mango smoothie (yum). I am enjoying reading all the comments because I definitely needed some ideas as I was thinking I couldn’t stand the boring foods another day! I have had some clear direction and an amazing time spiritually so I am excited for the next 12 days!